One example: Discovering late in the process that the foundation was so uneven, it wouldn't pass code specifications.

"Everything you see here is new concrete, and it's that thick," Sousa said, gesturing with his hands to display a 30-inch width.

"It's a 100-year-old building, so we blew out walls, and every piece we removed, we found surprises," he said.

Superior Motors will be housed in donated ground-level space in a building owned by Braddock Mayor John Fetterman.

Sousa and Fetterman say that, although the project received more than $300,000 in donations to get started, it's not enough to complete the work.

However, they said they are encouraged about the immediate future after a meeting with a financial institution to secure critical last-stage funding, and are confident that the public will soon hear announcements about a grand opening.

"Oh yeah, without a doubt," Fetterman said. "I've never had any doubts whatsoever."

Sousa beams with excitement when talking about the future of Superior Motors.

"There is no doubt the restaurant is going to open," he said. "We're just going to hit some speed bumps."